Machine for straightening empty tin cans.



Patented Aug. 6, I90l. J. W. McCALL.

MACHINE FOR STRAIGHTEMNG EMPTY TIN CANS.

Application filed Apr. 30, 1900.)

(No Model.)

,c L m: mums pawns co. more-Luna. vusnmcn'ou UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES W. MCCALL, OF PAXTON, ILLINOIS.

MACHINE FOR STRAIGHTENING EMPTY TIN CANS.

QPEGIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 679,772, dated August 6, 1901.

Application filed April 30, 1900.

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JAMES W. MCCALL, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Paxton, in the county of Ford and State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful Machine for Straightening Empty Tin Cans Which Have Been Dented, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to a machine to be used for straightening cylindrical tin cans after they have becomeindented, and more particularly to the kind of a can where one end is solidly closed and the other partially closed by a head having a hole in its center of less diameter than the body of the can. I attain this object by the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 represent the essential parts of the machine.

The same letter in the various figures refers to the same part or piece.

Fig. 1 is a front vertical view of the machine, and Fig. 2 a side View. Figs. 3 andt show in detail views of the adjustable dieblock in aclosed position ready to receive the can to be operated upon, and Figs. 5 and 6 show the same die-block in open position ready for operation. Figs. 5 and 6 also show a can in position as it would be when being operated upon.

a in the various figures represents an upper movable part of die-block hinged to part b by links 0 c c 0, (being four in number,) 'attached to a and b by pins d dd 01- (being four in number) in such manner that part a may fall against and rest on part b, as in Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 4, and more clearly shown in Figs. 2 and 3, or may be raised clear of I), supported by links a c o o, as shown in Figs. 5 and 6. The upper surface of 0. is curved to suit the surface of the can which it is desired to straighten.

In Figs. 5 and 6, n 71, represent two views of a can and show its position with reference to parts a and b when being operated upon. The inner circle q in Fig. 6 represents the size of the opening in the end of the can. Parts at and b are so arranged that when in closed position, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4, the die-block, consisting of parts a, b, c, and (1, may be passed through the small mouth of the can. The part a,protruding beyond b,will

Serial No. 14,852. (No model.)

strike the closed bottom of the can, and with a slight pressure upon the can awill be raised by a swinging motion on arms or links 0 00's to position, as shown in Figs. 5 and 6. e is a block of wood or metal cut out on'lower side to the segment of a circle corresponding in diameter to that of the can on which it is desired to operate. Said block e is attached to bar 71 by screws 0" 1". Bart is firmly attached to vertical bars ff, which are also firmly connected at lower ends by bar 0, to which is attached rod 19, by means of which a downward motion may be imparted to barsff and their connecting-pieces i and o and block 6, attached to 2'. Bars ff and connected parts ,are caused to rise and remain in upper position by means of coiled springs 70 until depressed by applying power at 19. Bar t'is extended at both ends beyond ff, and passing loosely through holes in extended ends are rods 9 g, on which are mounted lock-nuts h h h h, suitably arranged with threads engaging the threaded rods 9 g, so that the locknuts h h h It may be set to limit the upward and downward motion of the bar 1'. Casting m, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, has a hole bored horizontally through its upper portion to fit the stem of b, which is held in place as desired by set-screw Z. Through the base of m are bored parallel holes fitting bars ff. Also into the baseof m are firmly screwed the rods g g, and the whole is suitable mounted upon legs or bolted to a bench, as desired.

By the above references it will readily be seen that when it is desired to straighten an indenture that may exist in the surface of a can, and more especially in one having an opening in one end only less in diameter than the body of the can, it is possible with this device to remove such indenture or irregularity by passing the can over the die-block a b c d and pressing on can until a and b assume their positions, as shown in Figs. 5and 6, where part a firmly rests against the surface of the can. Then by a downward motion applied at 1) block 6 is brought into contact with outside of can and any existing irregularity is removed.

Having thus fully described my machine, what I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

In a machine of the character described, a

standard supported on a bed'-plate,said standard having a hole through its upper end, a die having a shank adjustable in the hole of the standard and secured therein,said die comprising two sections one of which is formed with the shank, links pivoted to the section formed with the shank and carrying the Inovable section, the said sections lying together to enter a can end, the said movable section being supported in an elevated position by the links when the can is applied, verticallyreciprocating bars,springs encircling the bars above the bed-plate, a bar attached to and carried by the vertically-reciprocating bars,

a. block carried by the second-named bar act- 15 J. W. MCOALL.

Witnesses: R. L. SCHNEIDER,

O. S. SCHNEIDER. 

